My Ministry - Jo’s route to ordination

In fact, when she first felt that God might be calling her to ordination, her initial reaction was to wonder whether she was good enough.

“I found it really hard to believe,” Jo explains. “I was a divorcee, I was chronically ill, I had lots of issues, and at the time I was ten years sober from alcoholism.”

But despite her doubts, Jo took those first steps on a journey that would challenge her physically, mentally and emotionally, and ultimately help her discover a deeper confidence in herself and the calling she believes God has placed on her life. Instead, it has given her a new sense of freedom.

Her own experiences of difficult times have shaped the kind of minister she wants to be. Having found hope through her faith, she recognises how much that hope can mean to people who are struggling.

“If I can give them hope through my own story, or just by walking alongside them, then to me that’s really important.”

Now serving as curate at All Saints’ Church, Cheadle Hulme, Jo is thoroughly enjoying the variety of parish life. One day might involve getting out to meet the wider community another attending a Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting, and Sundays regularly bring opportunities to be involved in worship.

For Jo, one of the greatest joys is getting to know the congregation and building relationships as they grow together as a church community.

“I believe church is about building relationships,” she says. “I have loads of joy here at church.”